Winter Season Preview

Boys’ Basketball

Westminster has a strong tradition of excellence and First Boys’ Basketball is taking steps to continue in that tradition. The Martlets are in their second season under Coach Charles Wright. Returning Sixth Formers Michael Hom and Matt Wilson will provide leadership and experience for the squad. The addition of Coach David Pringle ’05, a member of the 2004-2005 team, and strong underformers have raised the energy level of the team. The Martlets look forward to a competitive season and the opportunity to represent Westminster with their best efforts.

Girls’ Basketball

An exciting mix of veteran players with new blood promises to create an exciting 2010-2011 season for First Girls’ Basketball. Strengths of the squad include good size and an experienced starting five. Returning players include captains Eliza Breed '11, Louise Marenakos '11, and Marielle Lafaire '12 along with Stephanie Piperno '11, Kate Rubin '12 and Charlotte Gould '13. They are joined by an infusion of talented new and young Martlets: Jessica Mercier '11, Meaghan O'Herron '12, Hayley Ahouse '13, Laura Tingley '13, Annie Lacey '14 and Rachel Monroe '14. With so many fresh faces on the court, Coach Bryan Tawney is eager to see what the Martlets will be capable of this winter.

Boys’ Hockey

After a tremendous season last year, in which Westminster came within a goal of the New England Championship game, this year's squad has high expectations. While the Martlets graduated eleven players from last year's team, a strong offensive nucleus returns led by captain Corey Taber '11, David Hallisey '13 and Tim Acker '11, who together look to spearhead the charge. These three will be joined upfront by a trio of new Fifth Formers, Emilio Audi, Nick Finn and Chris Izmirlian, who all hope to add to the team's firepower. Additionally, postgraduates Luke Laskiewicz and Tom McKeown should provide some needed experience for the squad. On the blue line, returnees Jake Bolton '11 and Jeff Smolens '12 will anchor the Martlets along with Stuart MacKenzie '11, who looks to contribute more this season, and Andy Michailidis '12, who missed most of last season with an injury. Undoubtedly, the cornerstone of the team will be the stalwart goaltender Patrick Spano '12, who backstopped the squad to their tremendous success last season. In an always-competitive Founders League, the only guarantee the team can make is that each game will be exciting. The team opens up play this coming Saturday in a non-league game against the Hoggers of NMH, the very squad that bested the Martlets in overtime of last year's New England semi-final. Needless to say, this will be a big game.

Girls’ Hockey

With a good number of the girls returning from last year’s championship-winning team, First Girls’ Hockey expectations are very high for this season. The team also had some great news recently as both Amanda Boulier '11 and Sydney Daniels '13 were named to the U18 National team that will be competing in Sweden for the World Championships. Having said that, every team is a new team. The Martlets return their U18 Canadian national team goaltender, Carmen MacDonald '10 and have added Brooke Wolejko ’14 in goal as well. Captains Boulier and Rachel Farrel '11 lead a deep group of Sixth Formers, including Casey Breese, Karlyn Calamita-Crowley, Gaby Christman and Kelsey O'Brien. A number of solid Fifth Form forwards, Rachel Kennedy, Brooke Heron and Nina Gozzi, have been joined by two new classmates, Molly O'Sullivan and Lily Ross, who will add depth at forward. The underformers who will contribute to the offense are Daniels, returnee Alli Devins ’13 and newcomer Rose Rather ‘13. On the defensive end, Boulier will anchor a group with experience and youth. Hadley DesMeules ’12 and Eleni Tebano ’13 have improved and look to score a few goals this year, while newcomer Katherine Pate ’14 adds some quickness to the group. If this team can gel together into a cohesive unit, they should have a fine season.

Swimming and Diving

Both the Boys’ and Girls’ Swimming and Diving teams look to benefit from a number of newcomers this winter. Captains Caitlin Fabbri ’11 and Emily Worcester ’11 joined by veterans Emily Teschner ’12 and Sarah Dimmitt ’12 (diving) will provide much needed experience to the young squad. Newcomers Emily Kunsman ’14 and Sarah Holmes ’13 have the potential to be the team’s strongest and most versatile swimmers. Whitney Powel ’11 looks like she will be a significant addition in distance events and Electra Walker ’14 will also contribute to the team. The amount of new and young blood in the pool bodes well for this and future seasons.

While the boys’ team consists of only one Sixth Former, the overall numbers are up and the vibe is good, which should produce some solid development this year. The squad’s strength will be in distance events, while relays and sprint freestyle will be more of a challenge for the boys. Stroke specialists like Herbert Cheng ’13 and John FitzPatrick ’13 will attempt to fill the big shoes left by Connor O'Brien ’10 and Colin McLaughlin ’10. Other key returnees include captains Eric Wainman ’11 and Josh Kokulis ’12, Connor Mullen and Jake Cahill ’12. Charlie Januszewski ’13, Drew Poling ’13 and Augie Morris ’13 have shown potential among the relatively healthy group of new swimmers. With larger numbers than the team has had in the past, particularly of younger students, the potential for significant progress is good and exciting.